What is Star Trek?

Captain's Blog Stardate 93169.86

The words are familiar to us all "space: the final frontier... explore strange new worlds... seek out new life... boldly go where no man has gone before", but what do they mean? They aren't just random words spoken at the beginning of a revolutionary TV show to make it sound fun and cool. There is purpose behind them. There is a purpose behind Star Trek. So what does Star Trek mean to you?

A generation of people grew up with Star Trek: The Original Series. It was one of a kind. A show that took place in the future but dealt with real world problems. Racism, war, death, slavery, conspiracy, and everything in between. The show was so amazing that it has lived on for nearly 50 years with no end in sight. I asked the question, what does Star Trek mean to you, because I don't think it has only one meaning. I believe that each person loves Star Trek for a different reason.

Probably the most popular reason of all, and one of my reasons, is how it depicts the future. A galaxy where everyone is accepted for who they are. A united Earth that worked hard to bring peace, end poverty, and make sure that all who live there have comfortable lives. That's the kind of world I want to live in, the kind of world I'm trying to forge, and the kind of world that I'll one day teach my kids about.

Of course, shooting phasers at Borg is always fun! Let's be honest, the action is amazing! It wasn't the whole story though. It drove the story forward to teach us a lesson. It also provided an escape for some. I've heard stories about people who were on the edge ready to take their own lives, or depressed to the point that they no longer knew how to cope. Star Trek provided these people with an escape from reality. A hour window into a future where you felt like one of the crew. That's the power of Star Trek. It brings people together, gives people courage, and plants a spark of hope in our lives.

Enough of me rambling on. It's time for you to answer the question. What does Star Trek mean to you?

Written by Attilio on July 26, 2015 at 09:27 pm

Comments

ShadowCallerLight(Member) said...July 31, 2015 at 03:37 pm

Star Trek is something that transcends time and space for something greater, like a greater threat or an ideal that hasn't been faced before and that what I think the shows were trying to teach underneath Gene Roddenberry's dream.